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Thursday, April 14, 2016

Viburnum x burkwoodii, Adoxaceae

When I first saw this wonderful shrub growing in a garden near Cambridge this week I thought it was Viburnum x burkwoodii but when I posted a picture on Twitter Alan Gardner @autisticgardner identified it as V. carlesii 'Aurora', so now I'm not so sure.

Either way, it makes a wonderful display in April and filled this sheltered garden with a delightful spicy scent.

V. x burkwoodii is a hybrid between V. carlesii and V. utile, produced by Arthur and Albert Burkwood in the 19th. century. I though it might be this because V. carlesii only grows to about 1.5m. tall while this is about 2.5m., although it does have some of the intense pink colouring of the latter species at the bud stage.

In autumn it has bright red fruits that blacken during winter, and the autumn foliage goes a deep shade of red.

All in all, a very desirable shrub, whatever species or hybrid it might be. It's a native of Korea and Japan.